Lunyu 1.10 - 1.12

[1:10]
子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，
必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」

Zi Qin asking Zi Gong said, "Master when arrived at a state,
unfailingly know about it's government, does he inquire? Is he informed?"

[1:11]
子貢曰：「夫子溫﹑良﹑恭﹑儉﹑讓, 以得之。
夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與！」

Zi Gong said, "Master is cordial, kind, courteous, moderate and differential, therefore he obtained (information).
Confucius' way of asking, is totally different from other people's way of asking!"

[1.12]
子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；
三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」

Confucius said, "Father when present, observe his aspiration; father when
departed observe his conduct;
For three years if he does not depart from the father's way, he can be considered as filial.

Notes

[1.10] One of Confucius' disciples ask another about the special ability of their master. When Confucius arrived at a country where he had not set foot before, he invariably knew about it's administration. Zi Qin wanted to know how Confucius obtained these information.

[1.11] Zi Gong provided the answer. He enumerated a list of qualities which he thought had endeared Confucius to the strangers he met in his travels. By projecting a kind and sincere attitude, people who came in contact with Confucius invariably caught on to this positive mood which fostered genuine communication.

[1:12] In ancient China, the rules of society was such that a son must obey his father. When he's alive the son wouldn't dare to act against his father wishes; the only way to know his character is through his aspirations. After the father is dead, the son could do whatever he wants so his actions would reveal if he's filial.

This sentence could be read as a response to Zi Gong's praise in 1:11. Confucius wanted to set the record straight - that he did not purposely put on an act to endear himself to strangers, that he had behaved consistently both at home and abroad. Instead of explaining this directly, he used a more subtle approach of talking about a different subject which has the same underlying theme - that of behaving consistently. In effect, Confucius was saying - "Look at my behavior now, and observe my conduct when I'm abroad. If you can't see any difference, then you have to admit that I've been filial to my true self at all times."